Combat Sports Southampton

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Generally sports in which athletes fight or combat each other, usually one-on-one and in a controlled environment are called combat sports. Read the following articles to learn about a variety of combat sports ranging from karate to wing chun.

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Kung Fu: Translation & Usage Southampton

Originally, to practice kung fu did not just mean to practice Chinese martial arts. Instead, it referred to the process of one's training - the strengthening of the body and the mind, the learning and the perfection of one's skills - rather than to what was being trained.

Tai Chi Chuan Southampton

T'ai Chi Ch'uan or Taijiquan (from Chinese meaning literally "supreme ultimate fist"), commonly known as T'ai Chi, Tai Chi, or Taiji, is a nei chia ("internal") Chinese martial art. This art is often practiced for the purposes of health and longevity (some recent medical studies support its effectiveness here). T'ai Chi Ch'uan is considered a soft style martial art, an art applied with as complete a relaxation or "softness" in the musculature as possible, to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles.

Oral Histories in Wing Chun Southampton

The oral history of the Yip Man branch of Wing Chun dates its creation to the reign of the Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722). After escaping the destruction of the Henan Shaolin Monastery by Qing forces, the Abbess Ng Mui fled to the distant Daliang mountains on the border between Yunnan and Sichuan.

The Origins of Wing Chun's Branches Southampton

Leung Jan was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine in the city of Foshan in the 19th century, and is as far back as the lineages that descend from him (Yip Man, Yiu Kai, Pan Nam, Tam Yeung, Fung Sing) can reliably verify their genealogy.

Wing Chun Curriculum Southampton

Forms are a meditative, solitary exercise which develop self-awareness, balance and sensitivity. Forms also train the practitioner in the fundamental movements of Wing Chun. It is from the forms that all Wing Chun techniques are derived.

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Aikido Training: Body Southampton

Aikido training is for all-around physical fitness, flexibility, and relaxation. The human body in general can exert power in two ways: contractive and expansive. Many fitness activities, for example weight-lifting, emphasise the former, which means that specific muscles or muscle groups are isolated and worked to improve tone, mass, and power. Read on to find out more.

Aikido Training: Mind Southampton

Aikido training does not view the body and mind as separate. The condition of one will affect the other. For this reason, the physical relaxation learned in Aikido naturally becomes mental relaxation. Likewise, the perseverance and confidence that develop mentally are manifested in a body that moves and holds itself confidently and strongly. Read on for more.

Aikido Training: Spirituality Southampton

Spirituality | InterSports.co.uk

Amateur Boxing Southampton

In amateur boxing (the version of the sport found at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games) the primary emphasis is on landing scoring punches rather than concern with doing physical damage to one's opponent. Competitors wear protective headgear and box for three to four rounds of two or three minutes each. Each punch that lands on the head or torso is awarded a point. Read on for more.

Baguazhang Southampton

Baguàzhang literally means "eight trigram palm," referring to the trigrams of the Yijing, one of the canons of Taoism. In some styles of Baguazhang these diagrams can refer to eight animals, upon which movements in those fighting systems are based. These corresponding animals are: Chicken, Qílín (Unicorn or Chinese unicorn), Monkey, Lion, Snake, Lóng (Chinese dragon), Bear and Fènghuáng (Pheonix or Chinese phoenix).

Boxing: Medical Concerns Southampton

Boxing techniques utilise very forceful strikes with the hand. There are many bones in the hand, and striking surfaces without proper technique can cause serious hand injuries. Today, most trainers do not allow boxers to train and spar without handwraps and gloves. Handwraps are used to secure the bones in the hand, and the gloves are used to protect the hands from blunt injury.

Capoeira Southampton

Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art developed initially by African slaves in Brazil, starting in the colonial period. It is marked by deft, tricky movements often played on the ground or completely inverted. It also has a strong acrobatic component in some versions and is always played with music. The word capoeira has a few meanings, one of which is an area of forest or jungle that has been cleared by burning or cutting down. Read on for more.

Capoeira: Finding a Place to Play Southampton

If you are interested in playing capoeira, most major cities throughout the world have at least one club/group to join. Make sure you find out about your group's style and watch a class. Different groups have many differing advantages, so do the research yourself. Some styles are heavily geared towards being clever in the roda whereas others focus more on the physical capabilities of the players.

Characteristics of Wing Chun Southampton

Wing Chun favours a high, narrow stance with the toes pointed inwards and the elbows kept close to the body. All attacks and counter-attacks are initiated from this firm, stable base. Structure is never compromised for more powerful attacks because this creates defence flaws which an opponent may exploit.

Close Range Fighting in Wing Chun Southampton

Wing Chun is one of the few styles that emphasises non-grappling close range fighting. Ideal Wing Chun fighting distance is fist range. "Emergency" techniques also permit Wing Chun practitioners to fight at closer ranges using elbows.

Contemporary Wushu Southampton

Wushu, modern wushu, and contemporary wushu often refer to the modern recompilations of traditional wushu forms created in the People's Republic of China. These are practiced as a demonstration sport, much like gymnastics, and judged and given points according to specific rules.

Electronic Scoring Equipment for Fencing Southampton

Electronic scoring is used in all major national and international, and most local, sport competitions. (Classical fencing does not use such devices, as classical fencers feel that such devices hurt the practice of the art.) The electrical scoring system requires additional clothing for foil and sabre: Foil fencers wear a conducting vest which covers the torso and groin. Read on for more.

Fencing Southampton

In the broadest possible sense, fencing is the practice of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown - swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons, clubs etc. In contemporary common usage, fencing tends to refer specifiaclly to European schools of swordsmanship and to the modern Olympic sport which has evolved out of them.

Fencing Philosophies Southampton

Sports fencing, also know as Olympic fencing. This is the sort of fencing you will see in most competitions (including the Olympic Games). It is conducted according to the rules laid down by the FIE (the international governing body), which are rougly based on the conventions of "practice" fencing developed around XVII-XVIIIcc (then a means of preparing for a duel). Read on for other fencing philosophies.

Fencing: Electric Equipment Repair Southampton

The technology that makes electric fencing possible is not that complicated. Anyone can understand it, and with a little help, learn to track down problems. There are some people who have some understanding of the inner workings of the scoring box. Any questions regarding such should be directed to them. With regard to their care: treat them like any other piece of sensitive electronic equipment.

Fencing: Right of Way Southampton

The "right of way" principle in foil and sabre is that the first person to properly execute an attack has priority. Simply put, if one is attacked, one must defend oneself before counterattacking - rather than attempting to hit one's opponent even at the risk of being hit oneself. Attacks can be made to fail either by bad luck, misjudgement or by action on the part of the defender. Please read on.

Fencing: The Weapons Southampton

In both its modern and its classical guise, fencing consists of three different weapons: foil, épée and sabre. These three weapons had become standard by the late nineteenth century and all are represented at Olympic-level competition. Additionally, in classical academies, one will often find historical fencing weapons, such as grande canne, Main gauche or rapier-and-dagger, being taught.

Iaido Southampton

Iaido (also known as aijutsu or battojutsu) is a sword-based Japanese martial art that trains the motions associated with drawing a katana from its sheath, striking an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then re-sheathing the katana with smooth, controlled movement. Modern day exponents typically use iaito instead of shinken at least in beginning stages of study.

Judo as a Sport Southampton

Although a fully featured martial art, judo has also developed as a sport. Judo became an Olympic sport for men in 1964 and, with the persistence of an American woman by the name of Rusty Kanokogi and many others, a sport for women as well in 1988 (both years given were the years that Judo was a demonstration event followed by an official medal event 4 years later).

Jujitsu: The Beginning Southampton

Fighting forms have existed in Japan for centuries. The first references to such unarmed combat arts or systems can be found in the earliest purported historical records of Japan, the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), which relate the mythological creation of the country and the establishment of the Imperial family.

Jujutsu Southampton

Some define jujutsu and similar arts rather narrowly as "unarmed" close combat systems used to defeat or control an enemy who is similarly unarmed. Basic methods of attack include hitting or striking, thrusting or punching, kicking, throwing, pinning or immobilizing, strangling, and joint-locking. Great pains were also taken by the bushi (classic warriors) to develop effective methods of defence.

Jujutsu as a Sport Southampton

Jujutsu as a competitive sport is somewhat controversial. According to some practitioners, what makes jujutsu jujutsu, is the fact that every conceivable technique to win in combat is allowed - there are no rules or limitations, surviving the fight is what counts. This includes some very dangerous techniques, such as throwing a person from a standing position while having an arm in a jointlock, which can result in serious injuries.

Karate Southampton

Karate or karate-do is a martial art of Okinawan origin. Rather than being the product of any one person, culture or era, karate is a synthesis of various Okinawan fighting methods, enhanced intermittently with a mixture from various Chinese martial arts. In modernity, it is categorised by some as budo, introduced to the Japanese main islands from Okinawa in 1921 by various Okinawan practitioners who migrated to Japan during the early 20th century. Read for more.

Karate as a Sport Southampton

Since its introduction to Japan, karate has been adapted for practice as a competitive sport, although unlike other martial arts such as taekwondo or judo it does not possess Olympic status as an "Olympic Sport". The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the only recognised International Sport Federation by International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Karate and represents the major uniform rules among all styles.

Karate in the West Southampton

The rise in popularity of kung fu movies among the public propelled karate and the other martial arts into a newfound popularity - but at a cost. The sudden swell in interest also brought with it a considerable amount of misinformation, misconceptions, and outright con artistry, to karate.

Karate Styles Southampton

There is great variance in the outer forms and principles among styles. For example, Shotokan karate is characterised by deep, long stances and rigid, powerful movements. At the other end of the spectrum, Wado Ryu prefers quick and subtle body movements (known as 'tai sabaki') to evade attacks and provide swift counter attacks.

Kendo Southampton

Kenshi means swordsman. Both terms are used, though many clubs have a preference for one term. Kendoka also use bokuto (wooden katana) to practice set forms known as kata. On formal occasions, real swords or metal swords with a blunt edge, called habiki, can be used. There are 10 basic kata.

Kenpo in the West Southampton

Normal Karate usually focuses on linear attacks and blocks, or straight moves, with power being more important than learning separate techniques. Kenpo emphasises more circular moves, such as the hook, or the uppercut as main attack methods.

Kung Fu: Translation & Usage Southampton

Life as a Professional Sumo Wrestler Southampton

The Sumo Association can prescribe the behaviour of its wrestlers in a way that would be more commonly associated with life in a commune. For example in the wake of a serious car accident involving a senior rikishi the association banned wrestlers from driving their own cars.

Mixed Martial Arts Southampton

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is the combat sport in which two competitors attempt to achieve dominance over one another by utilising a wide variety of permitted martial arts techniques. Victory is normally gained through knock-out, submission (one fighter concedes victory to the other by tapping the mat or their opponent with their hand), or stoppage by the referee, the fight doctor or a competitor's cornerman.

Mixed Martial Arts: Common Rules Southampton

As soon as a fighter becomes unconscious due to strikes, their opponent is declared the winner (because MMA rules allow ground fighting, the fight is stopped to prevent further injury to the unconscious fighter.)

Mixed Martial Arts: Evolution of Fighting Styles Southampton

The vogue for professional wrestling died out after the First World War, only to be reborn in two major streams: "shoot", in which the fighters actually competed, and "show" which became increasingly dependent on choreography and theatrics and evolved into modern professional wrestling.

Mixed Martial Arts: Modern Fighting Styles Southampton

A sprawl-and-brawler is a boxer, kickboxer or Muay Thai fighter who has trained wrestling to avoid takedowns and tries to keep the fight standing. Usually these fighters will study enough submission wrestling so that in the unfortunate event that they are taken down, they can tie their opponents up and survive long enough to get back to standing or until the referee restarts the fight.

Mixed Martial Arts: Motivation for Change Southampton

Protection of the fighters helps to clean the stigma of "barbaric no rules fighting to the death" that MMA has obtained because of its vale tudo roots. It also helps athletes to avoid injuries and therefore train better to become better fighters.

Mixed Martial Arts: Rules Variations Southampton

MMA is often referred to as "cagefighting" in the US as it is associated with the UFC's octagonal caged fighting area. Most major "Western" MMA promotions (US, Canada and Britain ) use the "cage" as a result of directly evolving from the first UFC events.

Muay Thai Conditioning Southampton

Muay Thai is specifically designed to promote that level of fitness and toughness required for ring competition. Training regimens include many staples of combat sport conditioning such as running, shadowboxing, rope jumping, body weight resistance exercises, medicine ball exercises, abdominal exercises and in some cases weight training.

Muay Thai Techniques Southampton

The basic offensive techniques in Muay Thai use fists, elbows, shins, feet, and knees to strike the opponent. To bind the opponent for both offensive and defensive purposes, small amounts of stand-up grappling are used: the clinch. The clinch is applied by holding the opponent either around the neck or around the body. In Western Boxing, the two fighters are separated when they clinch.

Non-Electronic Scoring in Fencing Southampton

Prior to the introduction of electronic scoring equipment, the president of jury was assisted by four judges. Two judges were positioned behind each fencer, one on each side of the strip. The judges watched the fencer opposite to see if they were hit. When a judge thought they saw a hit, they raised their hand. Read on for more.

Oral Histories in Wing Chun Southampton

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